Monday, May 29, 2006
New WOFL Web site up and running
 We told you back in April, WOFL will be getting a new logo to go with a new corporate design. We offered our idea on what the new logo would look like.
Now, the new logo is out -- but not yet on the air. If you go to MyFoxOrlando.com, the soon-to-become official Web site of WOFL (that's in beta mode), you can see the new station logo. If you think it looks very similar to Tampa sister station WTVT, uh, you're right.
You're also right if you think WOFL's slick MyFoxOrlando site will definitely elevate Fox 35 as player among the local stations' web outlets.
Chitown trouble for former O-Towner
 In addition to covering stories, former Channel 6 sports anchor Ryan Baker has become part of one unhappy story in his hometown of Chicago.
Baker was called on the carpet by his Chitown station, NBC O&O WMAQ, for becoming too much of an advocate when he became the in-arena host for the city's WNBA team.
"Channel 5 reporter crosses the line" was the headline on ChicagoSports.com. Writer Teddy Greenstein wrote that at a Chicago Sky game, Baker "surprised some colleagues by wearing a Sky shirt and hat. And he won't be leading Sky fans in cheers during timeouts, as he did Tuesday and as he had planned to do throughout the season."
Station management have told Baker he can no longer be the team's in-arena host. "We want our viewers to perceive us as fair and objective with anything we cover. We talked about it, and Ryan understood," said WMAQ VP Frank Wittaker.
Said Baker: "I accept it and I understand it. I wouldn't have gone into it if I thought it would be detrimental to me or NBC5. No one is more concerned about my image than me. And I understand what it means to have credibility."
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
2 + 18 = Duopoply for O-Town
More on Monday's news that WESH owner Hearst-Argyle is purchasing WKCF-WB18 from Emmis ...
-- The deal is for $217.5 million -- a nice chunk of change and shows that housing isn't the only thing red-hot in the Central Florida market.
-- I originally wrote that O-Town will now have three duopolies -- Cox (WFTV, WRDQ), Fox (WOFL, WRBW) and H-A (WESH, WKCF). But I think there are four, because I believe religious stations WLCB and WTGL are owned by the same company.
-- Of all the local major network affiliates, only WKMG is without a duopoly partner. Is that a big deal, and what does that mean for the long term?
-- Part of the annoucement included the news that all WKCF operations will be moved to WESH's studios in Winter Park. So, what's going to happen to the WKCF building? Emmis is retaining it, and it will continue to be home for the syndicated "The Daily Buzz."
-- Speaking of the Buzz, it's still buzzzzing along. In fact, they have expanded the show by an half-hour, now starting at 5:30 a.m. The early edition half-hour offers features from the day before but updated news and weather for the current day.
-- The return of 10 p.m. news to WKCF isn't necessarily a given. In Hearst-Argyle's Kansas City duop, their WB station does not carry news. But in the Sacramento duopoly, its WB station has an hourlong newscast. That station, KQCA, also simulcasts a local morning radio show. But I could see WESH programming a morning news show from 7-9 to go up against Fox 35.
Monday, May 8, 2006
WKCF sold to Hearst-Argyle
Hearst-Argyle is getting an O-Town duopoly.
The owner of WESH-Channel 2 is purchasing WKCF-Channel 18 for $215.7 million.
Details at OrlandoSentinel.com
Sunday, May 7, 2006
And now, time for a newsbreak ...
Some quick briefs for you ...
-- WFTV is among five affiliates nationwide that ABC has selected to participate in a test of streaming network shows -- for free. If you go to the WFTV website, you can watch recent Desperate Housewives, Lost and Alias episodes. ...
-- Congrats to WESH meteorologist Amy Sweezey, on the birth of her son on Friday. Anderson John joins mom, dad and big sister Jaelyn, who was born during a very busy time for mom -- the summer 2004 hurricane season. WESH.com has details. ...
-- I mentioned recently about how all the Fox O&O stations are getting new websites and Internet addresses. Take a quick peek at under-construction MyFoxOrlando.com for WOFL. ...
-- Has WKMG dumped its highly touted "widescreen digital" presentation of its news on digital sets? While watching on Saturday evening, the gray bars were back and the picture wasn't stretched to meet the wider digital screen.
Documenting McEwen's recovery
The Sentinel's Hal Boedeker has a great story, updating the progress of Local 6 morning anchor Mark McEwen as he recovers from November's massive stroke. Among some of the more interesting points:
McEwen's return to the anchor desk is being pushed back until at least the end of summer, although station management is hesitant to set a date. One main reason is McEwen's voice. In addition to learning how to walk again, McEwen had to learn how to speak again. His voice isn't yet back to where he wants it to be. But his wife Denise said, "He's getting his inflections back, and he sounds more like Mark," she says. "His personality is coming through."
Also, McEwen is going into the office on Wednesdays now. And he's already helping out in his goal to spread the word about stroke prevention. He's taking home movies and keeping a journal about his recovery, and WKMG use those in a prime-time documentary about McEwen's recovery that it plans to air when McEwen returns.
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Chijoi beats the traffic to finish No. 1
 There was an annual Bicycle vs. Automobile commuter race on Tuesday, where drivers and cyclists race to a certain spot. Among the bike riders was WESH anchor Wendy Chioji. The goal was to race from Lake Lily in Maitland to City Hall in downtown Orlando. Guess who won? Yes, the biker. You could get to work faster on a bike than in a car, thanks to our wonderful O-Town traffic. Chioji traveled the 6.8 miles in 26 minutes -- beating the car by 5 minutes, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Here are more pictures.
Yet more awards for O-Town stations
WFTV was the big winner among the local stations in the annual South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists' Sunshine State Awards. Channel 9 picked up six awards, including a first place in Political/Government Reporting for Josh Wilson's and Jeff Harwood's much-discussed investigation of state Sen. Gary Siplin.
Channel 9 picked up two awards in deadline reporting -- third place to the staff for "Mayor Indicted," and second place for the staff for "Lake County Deputy Shot" -- and two awards in feature reporting -- third place for Berndt Petersen for "Lake County Cold Case" and second place to Petersen and Oscar Carrillo for "Female Boxer." WFTV won third place for Public Affairs Program, for "Open Hearts, Open Doors" by Matt Parcell, Bruce Wiley and Margaret Norman.
Channels 2 and 6 did well, too. WESH's Travis Sherwin, Stephen Stock, Shannon Fitzpatrick, Marc Rice won first place in Consumer Reporting for their "Ford Fires" reports. And WKMG's Tony Pipitone, Darran Caudle, Scott Noland, Eileen Gilmer won first place in Criminal Justice Reporting for "Search for Justice."
In the radio competition, WMFE-FM's Pat Duggins, Judith Smelser, Richard Paul won first place for Public Affairs Program for "Countdown Discovery."
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